Resolution 51/233
(June 14, 2001)
The General Assembly,
Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General
on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force
in Lebanon 1/ and the related report of the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,
2/
Bearing in mind Security Council resolution
425 (1978) of 19 March 1978, by which the Council established
the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and the
subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended
the mandate of the Force, the latest of which was resolution
1095 (1997) of 28 January 1997,
Recalling its resolution S-8/2 of 21 April 1978
on the financing of the Force and its subsequent resolutions
thereon, the latest of which was resolution 50/89 B
of 7 June 1996,
Reaffirming that the costs of the Force are
expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States
in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter
of the United Nations,
Recalling its previous decisions regarding the
fact that, in order to meet the expenditures caused
by the Force, a different procedure is required from
the one applied to meet expenditures of the regular
budget of the United Nations,
Taking into account the fact that the economically
more developed countries are in a position to make relatively
larger contributions and that the economically less
developed countries have a relatively limited capacity
to contribute towards such an operation,
Bearing in mind the special responsibilities
of the States permanent members of the Security Council,
as indicated in General Assembly resolution 1874 (S-IV)
of 27 June 1963, in the financing of such operations,
Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions
have been made to the Force,
Mindful of the fact that it is essential to
provide the Force with the necessary financial resources
to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the
relevant resolutions of the Security Council,
Concerned that the Secretary-General continues
to face difficulties in meeting the obligations of the
Force on a current basis, including reimbursement to
current and former troop-contributing States,
Concerned also that the surplus balances in
the Special Account for the United Nations Interim Force
in Lebanon have been used to meet expenses of the Force
in order to compensate for the lack of income resulting
from non-payment and late payment by Member States of
their contributions,
Recalling its resolution 50/89 B, in which it
requested the Secretary-General to include in his next
report on the financing of the Force a full evaluation
of damages resulting from the incident that occurred
at the headquarters of the Force at Qana on 18 April
1996 and the costs thereof,
1. Takes note of the status of contributions
to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon as at
30 April 1997, including the contributions outstanding
in the amount of 176.8 million United States dollars,
representing 6.6 per cent of the total assessed contributions
from the inception of the Force to the period ending
on 30 June 1997, notes that some 16 per cent of the
Member States have paid their assessed contributions
in full, and urges all other Member States concerned,
in particular those in arrears, to ensure the payment
of their outstanding assessed contributions;
2. Expresses concern about the financial situation
with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular
as regards the reimbursement of troop contributors,
which bear burdens owing to overdue payments by Member
States of their assessments;
3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member
States which have paid their assessed contributions
in full;
4. Urges all other Member States to make every
possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed
contributions to the Force in full and on time;
5. Endorses the observations and recommendations
contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on
Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 2/ subject to
the provisions of the present resolution;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to take all
necessary action to ensure that the Force is administered
with a maximum of efficiency and economy;
7. Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter
into commitments for the Force in the amount of 1,773,618
dollars to cover the costs resulting from the incident
at the headquarters of the Force at Qana on 18 April
1996;
8. Decides that the total amount mentioned in
paragraph 7 above, namely 1,773,618 dollars, shall be
borne by Israel;
9. Decides also to appropriate to the Special
Account for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
the amount of 124,969,700 dollars gross (120,860,700
dollars net) for the maintenance of the Force for the
period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, inclusive of
the amount of 4,708,300 dollars for the support account
for peacekeeping operations, to be assessed on Member
States at the monthly rate of 10,414,142 dollars gross
(10,071,725 dollars net) in accordance with the composition
of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of General Assembly
resolution 43/232 of 1 March 1989, as adjusted by the
Assembly in its resolutions 44/192 B of 21 December
1989, 45/269 of 27 August 1991, 46/198 A of 20 December
1991, 47/218 A of 23 December 1992, 49/249 A of 20 July
1995, 49/249 B of 14 September 1995, 50/224 of 11 April
1996 and 51/218 A and B of 18 December 1996 and its
decisions 48/472 A of 23 December 1993 and 50/451 B
of 23 December 1995, and taking into account the scale
of assessments for the year 1997, as set out in its
resolution 49/19 B of 23 December 1994 and its decision
50/471 A of 23 December 1995, and for the year 1998,
to be adopted by the General Assembly. subject to the
decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate
of the Force beyond 31 July 1997;
10. Decides further that, in accordance with
the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December
1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment
among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 9
above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization
Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 4,089,000
dollars approved for the period from 1 July 1997 to
30 June 1998;
11. Decides that there shall be set off against
the apportionment among Member States, as provided for
in paragraph 9 above, their respective share in the
estimated other income of 20,000 dollars for the period
from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998;
12. Decides also that, for Member States that
have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force,
there shall be set off against their apportionment,
as provided for in paragraph 9 above, their respective
share in the unencumbered balance of 2,863,500 dollars
gross (2,679,700 dollars net) in respect of the period
ending on 30 June 1996;
13. Decides further that, for Member States
that have not fulfilled their financial obligations
to the Force, their share of the unencumbered balance
of 2,863,500 dollars gross (2,679,700 dollars net) for
the period ending on 30 June 1996 shall be set off against
their outstanding obligations;
14. Invites voluntary contributions to the Force
in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable
to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate,
in accordance with the procedure and practices established
by the General Assembly;
15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda
of its fifty-second session, under the item entitled
"Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces
in the Middle East", the sub-item entitled "United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon".
101st plenary meeting
13 June 1997
Notes
1/ A/51/535/Add.1 and 2.
2/ See A/51/684/Add.1
Sources: The United Nations |